Third Chiefs-Bills playoff meeting in 4 seasons highlights the NFL's divisional round
Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills get a third shot at Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in the playoffs. This time, Buffalo gets to play at home. Mahomes will play his first road playoff game next Sunday night against the Bills, who advanced to the AFC divisional round with a 31-17 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday. The other AFC divisional game will be the top-seeded Baltimore Ravens hosting the Houston Texans. In the NFC, Green Bay will play at San Francisco and Tampa Bay will play at Detroit.
Eagles center Jason Kelce intends to retire after 13 NFL seasons, AP sources say
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce has told teammates he intends to retire after 13 NFL seasons, according to three people informed of the decision. They spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Tuesday out of respect for Kelce’s decision, which he has not yet made public. Kelce was in tears throughout the end of Philadelphia’s 32-9 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in an NFC wild-card game on Monday night. The respected team leader declined to talk to the media about his plans after the game.
Steelers' Tomlin abruptly leaves press conference when asked about his contract
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers’ latest one-and-done playoff appearance is raising questions about Mike Tomlin’s future. The NFL’s longest tenured coach was in no mood to talk about it Monday night. Tomlin walked off the podium at his postgame news conference following a 31-17 loss to the Buffalo Bills when a reporter began with, “Mike, you have a year left on your contract.” The abrupt exit only heightened speculation about what’s next for Tomlin and the Steelers. He’s been in charge there for 17 seasons, making him the NFL’s longest tenured head coach after Bill Belichick parted with New England last week. He’s never had a losing season — an NFL record run — but this year was close.
Alcaraz's win makes it record 30 seeds in Australian Open men's 2nd round. He likes the new format
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — The extra-day experiment for the first round finished on time on the Australian Open’s two main courts with Jessica Pegula converting her second match point just before midnight. Organizers added a day to the tournament in a bid to reduce the number of late finishes. It didn’t prevent Days 1 or 2 going well past midnight. But Carlos Alcaraz advanced in straight sets on Rod Laver Arena and Pegula finished off the Margaret Court Arena program to make the deadline. Wimbledon champion Alcaraz’s 7-6, 6-1, 6-2 win over 37-year-old Richard Gasquet meant a record 30 seeds advanced to the men's second round.
UCLA's star big men had a massive impact on the history of the AP Top 25 men's basketball poll
UCLA's star big men during a run of seven straight NCAA championships had a massive impact on the history of The Associated Press men's college basketball poll. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, then known as Lew Alcindor, and Bill Walton were the biggest stars of that run from 1967-73. That included 81 weeks at No. 1 in the AP poll, including four wire-to-wire stays at the top. The AP is marking the 75th anniversary of the poll this month. Other top players who had a big impact on the rankings included San Francisco's Bill Russell, Indiana State's Larry Bird and Duke's Christian Laettner.
Analysis: Philly will demand accountability for the Eagles' collapse after playoff loss to Bucs
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — From 10-1 to one-and-done, the Philadelphia Eagles’ collapse is complete. The defending NFC champions won’t be going back to the Super Bowl. They’re heading into a potentially turbulent offseason after an early vacation that few could’ve imagined heading into December. A 32-9 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in an NFC wild-card game on Monday night turns up the pressure on owner Jeffrey Lurie, general manager Howie Roseman and coach Nick Sirianni. Despite a 34-17 regular-season record and three playoff appearances in three seasons, including coming up just short in the Super Bowl last year against Kansas City, the heat is on Sirianni.
Bill Belichick interviews with Falcons for head coaching job
ATLANTA (AP) — Bill Belichick signaled he’s ready to get back to coaching less than a week after parting with the New England Patriots, speaking with the Atlanta Falcons about their vacant position. The Falcons announced Monday night they have interviewed the 71-year-old Belichick, who left the Patriots on Thursday after 24 seasons and a record six Super Bowl championships. The fifth of those Super Bowls came nearly seven years ago against the Falcons in a game Atlanta led 28-3 in the third quarter before Tom Brady rallied the Patriots to a 34-28 overtime victory. The Falcons are seeking a successor to Arthur Smith, who was fired shortly after the conclusion of his third straight 7-10 season.
San Jose State's Brent Brennan agrees to 5-year deal to be Arizona's next coach, AP source says
Arizona has agreed to a five-year contract with San Jose State’s Brent Brennan to be the Wildcats' next coach, according to a person with direct knowledge of the deal. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Tuesday because the school was preparing an official announcement. Brennan replaces Jedd Fisch, who left for Washington on Sunday, and is the latest domino to fall since Nick Saban announced his retirement at Alabama. Brennan was a candidate for the Arizona job when the school hired Fisch after the 2020 season.
Promising Wales star Louis Rees-Zammit quits rugby to pursue dream of playing in NFL
GLOUCESTER, England (AP) — Wales international Louis Rees-Zammit is quitting rugby to pursue his dream of playing in the NFL. The 22-year-old Rees-Zammit is one of the world’s most exciting wingers. He has accepted an invitation to join the NFL’s international player pathway. His club Gloucester says Rees-Zammit will be leaving for Florida this week to begin the pathway program. Rees-Zammit made his debut for Wales in 2020 and played in the World Cup last year. He was in the British and Irish Lions squad in 2021 for the tour of South Africa at the age of 20.
Draymond Green returns to court against Grizzlies after serving 'indefinite' suspension
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Golden State forward Draymond Green has returned to action after missing 16 games as part of a league suspension for striking Phoenix center Jusuf Nurkic in the face during a Dec. 12 game. Green didn’t start the game, but entered with 6:10 left in the first quarter. His appearance drew a hearty set of boos from the Memphis faithful. Monday’s appearance was Green’s first action since the December game.
